NEWS

DPPI Images / Ligier European Series. Ballymena driver Brandon McCaughan underlined his growing reputation as one of Northern Ireland’s most promising young motorsport talents, delivering standout pace but leaving France frustrated after a challenging second round of the 2026 Ligier European Series. The 22-year-old produced eye-catching performances at Circuit Paul Ricard across 01-02 May, but a mix of setbacks, race incidents and penalties prevented the results from matching

From left participant Jacqueline Dickson with Hayley Barr Labour Market Partnership, participant Denise Harris, Annie McSparron, CEO Kelli McRoberts, Denise Mayo Labour Market Partnership, Paul Truscott General Manager Harbourview Hotel Ten people across Mid and East Antrim have completed a targeted hospitality training programme, collectively securing 24 accredited qualifications as efforts intensify to tackle unemployment and skills shortages in one of Northern Ireland’s fa

Ballymoney Street, Ballymena More than 90 town centre businesses across Mid and East Antrim are set to benefit from a £75,500 grant scheme aimed at improving the appearance of their premises. The ‘Town Centre Revamp Refresh’ grant offers up to 80 per cent of eligible costs, capped at £1,000 per business, councillors were told at a recent meeting of the borough council’s Environment and Economy Committee. A total of 106 applications were submitted, with 13 deemed ineligible du

Three-year-old Border Collie Cross Olly at Dogs Trust Ballymena is searching for his forever home A young dog who has spent almost his entire life in kennels in Ballymena is still waiting for someone to take him home, as a fresh appeal is launched ahead of a stark milestone next month. Three-year-old Border Collie Cross Olly is set to reach 1,000 days in the care of Dogs Trust Ballymena, having arrived as a puppy and never finding a lasting match despite early interest. The c

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Minford Jackson, announces the launch of the new ‘Craft to Commerce’ programme. A new council-backed initiative launching next month is set to give aspiring crafters across Mid and East Antrim a direct pathway from hobby to income, offering hands-on experience, market exposure, and business support in a push to unlock local creative potential. The ‘Craft to Commerce’ programme, beginning in June 2026, is designed to help hobby-craft en

The former Northern Regional College building at Trostan Avenue in Ballymena Frustration is mounting in Ballymena after it emerged there is still no timeline for the demolition or redevelopment of a derelict former college site on Trostan Avenue, despite ongoing reports of vandalism, trespass and fire-setting. The Department for the Economy has confirmed that the former Northern Regional College campus remains tied up in a disposal process and is still awaiting valuation, mea

Pictured at the first SNUS Awareness training event at Ballymena Showgrounds are Chair of Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (MEA PCSP), Councillor Lauren Gray, alongside Elena Brewer, MPH Training Services Officer at ASCERT, and Chantal Ford, Irish Football Association Safeguarding and Welfare Manager. The growing use of snus and nicotine pouches among footballers and young people in Mid and East Antrim has prompted a targeted community safety resp

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured with Julia Cleeland, Operations Director, Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Service, and Paul Frew MLA at a recent visit to Mid & East Antrim Community Advice Service. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed a key funding programme designed to help people access debt advice earlier and more easily will continue into 2026-27, following strong early results across all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland. The Integrated Advice

Mid and East Antrim councillors have approved the borough council’s response to a Department for Communities (DfC) consultation on draft regulations covering notice-to-quit periods for landlords and tenants in the private rental sector. A report presented to a recent meeting of the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee outlined that, at present, the minimum notice period landlords must give tenants is four weeks for tenancies of less than 12 months; eight weeks f

Waterstone’s Ballymena has revealed its latest Top 10 bestselling books, with a strong mix of contemporary fiction, crime thrillers and memoirs leading the way — alongside a packed schedule of book clubs and a standout storytime event featuring a local author. With readers continuing to seek out both escapist fiction and thought-provoking titles, this week’s chart reflects a broad and evolving range of interests across the Ballymena community. Top 10 this week A blend of best

A major cross-border initiative is encouraging people across Mid and East Antrim to get moving this May, with a growing programme of free, weekly community walks designed to boost physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection. The Walking for All programme, led by Outscape and supported by PEACEPLUS, is inviting residents to mark National Walking Month by joining organised walks taking place across the borough, with no cost, no equipment required, and routes tailore

David Harkin, Franchisee Performance Manager at Subway UK and Ireland, is pictured with a group of finalists from across the competing clubs ahead of the NIYFA Subway Cup Finals Day at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown, where Northern Ireland’s top youth teams will compete for national honours. Northern Ireland’s most promising young footballers are set to take centre stage as 34 of the country’s leading youth teams prepare to compete for national honours at the NIYFA Su

Pictured is the Bluebell Arts Project, one of last year's grant recipients Arts organisations and creative groups across Northern Ireland have been given a fresh opportunity to secure significant funding, with grants of up to £75,000 now available to support projects aimed at growing and diversifying participation in the arts. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has officially opened applications for its National Lottery Project Funding programme, offering awards ranging fro

The Rathkeel Road in the Broughshane area of Ballymena A quiet rural stretch outside Ballymena was plunged into uncertainty on Thursday night after three men reportedly jumped from a trailer transporting animals and fled into the surrounding countryside, prompting a police search involving a helicopter. The incident unfolded between approximately 9pm and 10pm on 30 April in the Rathkeel Road area near Broughshane, with residents left shaken as officers moved quickly to track

Zak Moore and Jack Strange, Sauna Masters at Galgorm, who were crowned Team Performance Champions at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships, hosted at Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village A standout double success for a Ballymena-based spa team has put Northern Ireland firmly on the international wellness map, after two Galgorm Sauna Masters claimed top honours at the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships on home soil. Zak Moore and Jack Strange were crowned Team Performance Champions following

Ballymena Sinn Féin councillor Bréanainn Lyness with local resident Donna McElroy A long-awaited return of a community amenity has been realised in Ballymena, with a new bench installed at Devenagh Way in the Rectory Estate - replacing a previous seat removed years ago due to vandalism. The installation, completed in time for the summer months, marks a small but significant improvement for residents in the area, restoring a place to rest and gather that had been missing for s

Action for Children staff Rosie Moore, Lorna Ballard and Franci Simpson with Jon Burrows MLA A North Antrim MLA has praised the “real difference” being made by a local early years service after seeing its impact first-hand during a visit to Ballymena. Jon Burrows visited Ballymena and Little Steps Antrim Sure Start on Doury Road on Friday, 1 May, where he met staff, parents and young children benefiting from the programme. The service, which operates across three sites in the

The Gallaher Trust’s Board of Trustees are pictured with Ballymena 400 – Building on Partnership and Progress keynote speaker, Declan Lawn, co-writer of BBC drama, Blue Lights, alongside his BAFTA award. A major funding opportunity and a clear call for collaboration have been set out in Ballymena, as a high-profile event hosted by the Gallaher Trust brought together business leaders, community organisations and delivery partners to tackle some of the area’s most pressing eco

Only six fixed penalty notices for dog fouling were issued across Mid and East Antrim during 2025, new figures have revealed, despite continued concerns from councillors and residents about the scale of the problem. The figures, released by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in response to a Freedom of Information request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, show that five fines were issued in Ballymena and one in Carrickfergus over the 12-month period. No p

The large, mature tree deliberately set on fire in Cullybackey. A deliberate fire at Cullybackey River Walk has drawn sharp criticism from a local councillor after emergency crews were called out to tackle what has been described as a reckless act of vandalism. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene in Cullybackey village, Ballymena, on Wednesday evening, April 29, after reports of a tree on fire in the area. The incident, which required a response from Ballymena Fire Stat